Illinois is the worst, say Illinoisans

posted at 8:31 am on May 3, 2014 by Erika Johnsen

Here’s an interesting metric for measuring the caliber of a given state: Not merely how many residents are actually up and leaving, but how many residents really want to up and leave. That’s the question that Gallup asked in a new survey released this week, and not at all surprisingly, a full fifty percent of Illinoisans would get the hell out of dodge given the opportunity, followed closely by Connecticuters and Marylanders:

Gallup mentions that high taxes are a major discouraging factor for the people who want to get out of Illinois, and in a poll earlier in April, only 28 percent of Illinoisans reported that they had at least a fair amount of trust in their state government — dead-last place again, with Rhode Island second-to-last at 40 percent and North Dakota in first place with 77 percent. Ouch.

The road to reelection for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) was always going to be difficult. But it looks even harder at the end of a troubling week for the Democrat when a federal probe of an anti-violence initiative he started has received widespread attention in the state.

At minimum, the episode is an unwelcome distraction; at most, it could become a big blow to the good-government image Quinn has carefully crafted, close watchers say.

“It’s obviously very early in terms of the details, but one of the things that Pat Quinn has been able to hang his hat on for about three decades is his positioning himself as a reformer, an outsider and a champion of good government,” said Republican strategist Doug O’Brien, a former aide to Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). “This really has the potential to undermine what was really one of the few positives he had going in terms of his public image.”

Comments

Gallup mentions that high taxes are a major discouraging factor for the people who want to get out of Illinois, and in a poll earlier in April, only 28 percent of Illinoisans reported that they had at least a fair amount of trust in their state government — dead-last place again[.]

Which is why they will do the smart thing: continue electing and re-electing Democrats by overwhelming margins.

My family included (except for a small number), Illinois residents are the epitome of the Low information voter. They complain about the pols as much as they do about the weather, then pull the Democrat lever every time.

The Chicago Cook County Machine and its affiliates, called the Combine by John Kass, runs Illinois. It is essentially a one party state.

There are some ‘real’ Republicans among many faux Republican RINOs. Mark Kirk, who almost supported Durban for Senator, is one of the latter. They are basically ‘conservative’ Dems (an oxymoron) who call themselves Republicans in order to get elected and maintain the illusion there is still a two party system.

They no longer bother with that charade in Chicago. The mayoral election is the Dem primary. The ‘general’ election is no longer contested by the GOP.

The corruption in Illinois is endemic and pervasive across what passes for a two party system. Enough people profit from it to keep control. Any opposition is intimidated into silence.

Illinois is exactly what you would expect in a state controlled and run by neo-socialist thugs.

And the MSM is in on it. The state’s financial condition is rarely ever mentioned in the local news. When it is mentioned the ‘reporting’ is perfunctory. The MSM, with rare exceptions like Kass, rarely ever criticizes the Dems. The Washington DC MSM are pikers in comparison. Praise of The One and his policies is pervasive in the local media. There is little if any criticism. He can do no wrong and walks on water.

I would move, but I am an getting old and have personal reasons for staying, for the time being. Otherwise I would get the hell out.

That looks like one of those spiky curves, though. It flattens out pretty quickly and probably doesn’t mean much beneath Maryland. The weirdness is really confined to Illinois and Connecticut — so those are the populations we need to capture, study, and eventually autopsy.

I’m one of the Coloradoans that would go elsewhere, but it would be hard. I’ve lived here most of my life (5 in TX), and it’s perfect except for the freakin’ liberals that have moved in and screwed everything up.

My family included (except for a small number), Illinois residents are the epitome of the Low information voter. They complain about the pols as much as they do about the weather, then pull the Democrat lever every time.

SteveInRTP on May 3, 2014 at 8:59 AM

I’ve never understood people who bitch about government as if it’s just some giant omni present entity(well it is)that they can’t do anything about. People create that entity, and the kind of people you elect will determine what kind of entity is created. Pull the ear buds out and start paying attention.

My family included (except for a small number), Illinois residents are the epitome of the Low information voter. They complain about the pols as much as they do about the weather, then pull the Democrat lever every time.

SteveInRTP on May 3, 2014 at 8:59 AM

That’s because Republicans are considered evil. Many may not like the Dems, but voting for a Republican is considered voting for Beelzebub.

Illinois’ voting population is perfectly representative of the low info ignoramuses across the nation who put Comrade O in the WH, twice.

My experience in Chicago and Illinois, and now with Chicago on the Potomac, has convinced me that universal suffrage democracy is fatally flawed, for reasons the Founding Fathers were well aware of and feared.

That’s because Republicans are considered evil. Many may not like the Dems, but voting for a Republican is considered voting for Beelzebub.

Illinois’ voting population is perfectly representative of the low info ignoramuses across the nation who put Comrade O in the WH, twice.

My experience in Chicago and Illinois, and now with Chicago on the Potomac, has convinced me that universal suffrage democracy is fatally flawed, for reasons the Founding Fathers were well aware of and feared.

farsighted on May 3, 2014 at 9:08 AM

Yup and they didn’t see they were putting Beelzebub’s #1 imp in the WH — twice.

My family included (except for a small number), Illinois residents are the epitome of the Low information voter. They complain about the pols as much as they do about the weather, then pull the Democrat lever every time.

SteveInRTP on May 3, 2014 at 8:59 AM

I also have family in IL, wonderful people and yet totally in orbit when it comes to politics. I hear you.

My family included (except for a small number), Illinois residents are the epitome of the Low information voter. They complain about the pols as much as they do about the weather, then pull the Democrat lever every time.

SteveInRTP on May 3, 2014 at 8:59 AM

As a life-long Illinois resident, this is very accurate.

There’s some kind of culture here where the voting public fully accepts that politicians are corrupt, that taxes need to be high, that paying more for everyday products is the norm (gasoline, etc.), that the “intentions” of Progressives are of greater value than results, that teacher union thugs are good for public education, etc.

I travel thru Chicago a couple times a week. Along I-294 are a number of billboards that ask: “Still Illinoyed?” Indiana is trying to steal away business from Thugcity.

DStreete on May 3, 2014 at 9:37 AM

I see them every morning while I drive from my home in Indiana to my job in Illinois. I’m unfortunate enough to live in a deep blue part of Indiana. In addition to having to pay Illinois’ 5% state income tax, I now have to pay about a 2% county income tax.

When you get to Texas, leave your big gummint ideas at the border.

…and, Bishop!

DublOh7 on May 3, 2014 at 8:48 AM

I have no big gummint ideas to bring, so don’t worry about me. :) At this point, moving to Texas would merely be attempt to live in an area with something approaching a rational and reasonable government.

As an Illinoisan with a hopelessly underwater mortgage, I can relate with the 50% that wants out. I want out too. I’m looking for any way I possibly can. Illinois is a sinking ship. I am not even sure that electing Bruce Rauner in November will be enough to save Illinois.

As a resident of CT for the past nine years, I absolutely would love to get out of this state as soon as possible.
Originally a native of South Jersey, I’m looking to leave behind the entire northeast altogether. I just hope the parasitic residents don’t follow me to greener pastures.

And its road repair season. During which large stretches of main roads are blocked off and traffic rerouted. About 90% of the time there is not a road repair vehicle or worker anywhere to be seen within a mile or two.

Much of the time there are signs nearby that say something like… ‘Your taxes at work’. The irony is lost on most low info Illinoisans.

And its road repair season. During which large stretches of main roads are blocked off and traffic rerouted. About 90% of the time there is not a road repair vehicle or worker anywhere to be seen within a mile or two.

Much of the time there are signs nearby that say something like… ‘Your taxes at work’. The irony is lost on most low info Illinoisans.

farsighted on May 3, 2014 at 10:10 AM

I once set up shop at a Chicago Convention Center trade fair to promote one of my businesses and when it came time to run power cords for all the lighting and such, I was approached by a guy with a clipboard. This very polite but serious union dude told me I wasn’t allowed to plug anything in, that they had “people” to do that for me. So one guy was assigned to me for an hour or so and all he did was run cords and plug them into the sockets.

I once set up shop at a Chicago Convention Center trade fair to promote one of my businesses and when it came time to run power cords for all the lighting and such, I was approached by a guy with a clipboard. This very polite but serious union dude told me I wasn’t allowed to plug anything in, that they had “people” to do that for me. So one guy was assigned to me for an hour or so and all he did was run cords and plug them into the sockets.

Bishop on May 3, 2014 at 10:16 AM

I was once assigned to set up a computer based product display booth at a convention in Chicago. This was decades ago.

Same thing happened. But because they could not configure and connect the actual hardware, they had to watch me do it.

Every night we disassembled part if the display and put the equipment in a locked trunk. One morning the trunk looked like a gang of thugs with the collective brain power of a spider monkey spent all night trying to break into it, unsuccessfully.

I really think a lot of people believe this is the way it’s supposed to be. They don’t realize there is anything else. I remember years ago there was a program to bring kids from the bad areas of N. Ireland to the US so they could see what life is like somewhere else. Maybe they need a program to send kids out of places like Chicago to places like Texas and North Dakota.

And its road repair season. During which large stretches of main roads are blocked off and traffic rerouted. About 90% of the time there is not a road repair vehicle or worker anywhere to be seen within a mile or two.

Much of the time there are signs nearby that say something like… ‘Your taxes at work’. The irony is lost on most low info Illinoisans.

farsighted on May 3, 2014 at 10:10 AM

Arrrrgh! I’ve seen them disrupting traffic to re-stripe roads, only to tear them up the next month. It’s definitely part of the make-work scam.

One of the best gigs in the state is to work for the highway department. I believe it is in their contract to lay down inferior quality roads and then dig them up the next year to “fix them.” I think they might get in trouble if they ever do it right the first time.

The one thing Texas has going for it that I’ve not heard of any other State having is a congress that serves every other year. And when it does serve it’s only for about 6 months. That is, State reps and senators aren’t around all the time to pass worthless laws and regulations. It’s not term limits, per se, but it has a similar effect. The writers of the Texas Constitution pretty much said at the outset that those good ole boys in State government aren’t really that important. In fact, they are, or can be, a bit of a nuisance.

That could all change if the State turns blue (and it will turn blue overnight if amnesty is passed).

Ditto…I despise this state. As small business owners, we are utterly screwed coming and going. We can’t move, the kids are here.

I don’t think Rauner will be much better than any other pol….he is just like Kirk. Emmanuel, I think, will be primaried by Preckwinkle, and she will beat him easily. What I DO find interesting is Meeks endorsing Rauner to the “black community”.

The ONLY kudos I will give to Quinn, and give them willingly, is that he attended the funerals of vets in our state. He didn’t really advertise it that much. Good for him.

On the CT thing, a lot of rich people who work in NYC have a home in CT.
Consequently, RE prices are grossly inflated and the tax rates are high.
Plus, the state loves itself some regulations, brother, permits for EVERYTHING!

Living in MT is overrated, the Kalifornian doctors and lawyers have long since run-up RE prices such that natives cannot live their anymore.

interesting thing about 24% wanting to leave Texas – about 35% reliably vote Democrat, so this probably means that 2 out of every 3 democrats in Texas hates their own State. Has quite a bit to do with why no democrats have been elected statewide for a long time; only dem candidates who hate their own state can get enough support from their base to win a primary.

As for the piss farm known as the State of ILL, I would leave in a heartbeat but family is too important to us and our daughter and grandson are here. All my brothers. The family cost of leaving is too great – that’s why this is such an important poll. Some people are stuck where they are. I’d be in western Michigan otherwise.

I spent twenty years in Illinois, twelve of them in the Chicago area, and I love Chicago. But I cannot stand the politics anymore. It used to be fun watching the crooks run the place, but now it’s disgusting. I think Obama has something to do with it.

One of the best gigs in the state is to work for the highway department. I believe it is in their contract to lay down inferior quality roads and then dig them up the next year to “fix them.” I think they might get in trouble if they ever do it right the first time.

Fallon on May 3, 2014 at 10:33 AM

Except for the Edens Expressway. That’s the most solid road I’ve ever driven on. Even a truck flipping over on it barely caused a slight gash. Most of the roadwork is in outlying areas around Chicago, including the bypass which sees more truck traffic than the rest of the roads. That’s probably why it’s worked on so much, but your point about make-work is a good one. They could build better roads and have less construction.

Could not have said it better. I retire from my job in just over two years. We’ve told our more liberal relatives that we are leaving this [email protected] to go to Arizona or Texas. They actually seemed surprized that we refuse to stick around this cesspool. We are taking our conservative ways with us. When we settle down, where ever it will be, we will continue to follow our beliefs and faith in a place where we are not ridiculed for it.
Face it all, Illinois sucks.

I once set up shop at a Chicago Convention Center trade fair to promote one of my businesses and when it came time to run power cords for all the lighting and such, I was approached by a guy with a clipboard. This very polite but serious union dude told me I wasn’t allowed to plug anything in, that they had “people” to do that for me. So one guy was assigned to me for an hour or so and all he did was run cords and plug them into the sockets.

Johnny was getting underfoot while his mother was cleaning house so she sent him across the street to watch a gang of men building a house. “Maybe you’ll learn something.”
A couple hours later he returned and she asked “did you learn anything Johnny?”
“Yeah, I learned how to say ‘just move it over a c**t hair'”.
“That’s terrible language! You’re being punished – go out in the back yard and get me a switch!”
“Screw you lady – that’s an electrician’s job.”

Except for the Edens Expressway. That’s the most solid road I’ve ever driven on. Even a truck flipping over on it barely caused a slight gash. Most of the roadwork is in outlying areas around Chicago, including the bypass which sees more truck traffic than the rest of the roads. That’s probably why it’s worked on so much, but your point about make-work is a good one. They could build better roads and have less construction.

HiJack on May 3, 2014 at 12:48 PM

Coincidentally, the Edens services the north shore, including the old money north shore suburbs.

The Magnificent Mile of Michigan Ave is kept in good shape, too. So are the streets where the ward bosses live.

Since these states are mostly (not all) historically democrat states, and the democrat party’s mantra is “tax the wealthy to control the poor” it’s understandable, there comes a tipping point – i.e., leave.

Problem? They leave and bring their tax and control (or is it control and tax?) mindset with them wherever they go; continue to vote democrat and wreck states where they subsequently reside.

If you, Dems, are so interested in “paying higher taxes to keep ‘them’ satisfied” (a quote from a key DFLer in MN), please stay home. We don’t want you or your “progressive,” democrat vote.

Ted the Average- to your point about the influx of liberals into state population centers.. This is why I would like to see the electoral college abolished and the presidency determined by popular vote. Voters would get “validated” by state ID checks and get a user name and password to vote at voting centers electronically via an INTRAnet.
One vote for all US citizens. No silly hand counting of ballots and hopefully no cheating.. Think of Philly with the 107% turnout.
I mean for those naysayers out there, they certainly can set up a system to collect taxes but not a vote???

I swear, a lot of IL must vote with a goal to have something to complain about. Complaining is the state pastime. I’ve been away 40 years and yet on visits I still shake my head and think this is what I used to sound like.

I need to move back to Peoria (not really) and start “Complainers Anonymous” — business would be booming.

Crankyoldlady, I respectfully disagree. The point is that the registration process ensures one vote per person (ideally). If rural voters can get to their voting stations now, there is no difference in the fact it would be online instead of manual ballots and shady Diebold voting machines.. The city vote already dominates the electoral votes in our elections. This would be focused on getting more rural votes to off set the takers. Maybe I am way off here but it is just a suggestion.

I get Illinois, with its endemic corruption, enormous debts and weak economy. But CT and IL effectively tied for the worst.

Ted Torgerson on May 3, 2014 at 8:50 AM

Spent my childhood and young adult life in the Chicago suburbs living in both Kane and DuPage counties for the better part of 15 years each. Growing up, both of those counties were strictly Republican. As the suburbs grew with legal “immigrants” from Cook County and illegal aliens from the south they took on much of the “what can the government do for me” attitude and plunged into a nanny state vortex.

I feel at “home” when we visit a half dozen times a year because of the many family and friends that still live there, but I will never move back. Operating a small to medium sized business there is a pain in the ass due to regulations, fees and a strong union presence; the traffic is horrible, the roads themselves worse than the traffic (although I-pass seems to have cut down on some of the tollway problems), and there just isn’t a lot of great scenery. I think the city itself from a travel and leisure perspective is truly a great international city. But when you go from lake, city, suburbs, to endless corn/soybean fields there isn’t much else other than your family and friends to keep you entertained.

We moved away to Connecticut 15 years ago to open up new businesses. It is more expensive than most other states and they do tax you, tax you, tax you, but I guess I got used to that growing up in Illinois. Obviously the state is under democrat control much of it due to the cities of Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stanford. Add in many NYC transplants and I don’t ever see it going GOP again. While the regulatory climate isn’t as easy to deal with as some other states, it’s not as bad as Illinois, particularly as to dealing with unions both here and in NY/NJ.

Connecticut is a beautiful state especially in the spring, summer and fall. Winter not so much just like most of the northeast. We live in a lake community with “mountains” rising up 700′ right off the water and even my neighbor who grew up in Truckee, CA calls this his mini-Tahoe. It will be gorgeous here in two more weeks once the tree buds have been replaced by a hundred shades of green. We’re only 1:15 minute to Manhattan, 2.5 hours to Boston, and you can be skiing in Killington, VT on 3 hours. Not bad.

Include me in the 49% that will eventually leave, but that may be just for the late fall through early spring period once we get a bit older.

One of the best gigs in the state is to work for the highway department. I believe it is in their contract to lay down inferior quality roads and then dig them up the next year to “fix them.” I think they might get in trouble if they ever do it right the first time.

Fallon on May 3, 2014 at 10:33 AM

In a way you are right but it’s not the highway department that builds the roads. The road builders are the ones that create their own job security. In Illinois these guys are possibly the strongest lobby outside of the public employee unions.

The very first paragraph from their website:

“The Associated General Contractors of Illinois (or AGCI as many of our members come to call us) is one of the largest, most influential heavy-highway trade organizations in Illinois. We also have a close relationship with IDOT and the Illinois legislature – making sure your voice is heard.”

ALT, my wife and I have a running bit that makes me think of you. We see Texas license plates everywhere we go. Everywhere. On vacation in Michigan, driving into the city, going to church, at the grocery store. It is crazy. We don’t believe in weird coincidence and keep asking God for clarity – “Lord, what’s with Texas? Are we supposed to move there or something?”

Good lord, you must have never have been to Hartford, it’s kind of a cross between Detroit and East St. Louis. The whole or should I say Hole state is nothing but a backwater run down suburb of NYC and the speed limit on the Interstate never gets above 55mph, so you can’t get out of there fast enough.

As an Illinoisan with a hopelessly underwater mortgage, I can relate with the 50% that wants out. I want out too. I’m looking for any way I possibly can. Illinois is a sinking ship. I am not even sure that electing Bruce Rauner in November will be enough to save Illinois.

h a p f a t on May 3, 2014 at 10:03 AM

Except for the underwater part, this is me. Looking to escape and let my home state commit suicide. The libs have created this mess, they can have it ~